THE SACRED HOME OF Huriawa

Te Waikoropupū Springs is the playground of the kaitiaki taniwha or protective guardian ‘Huriawa’.

KO HINE HURIAWA Koia te kaitiaki i a Hine Te Waikoropupū, puta noa ngā tōpito katoa o Aotearoa me Aoteamairangi. He atua nō tuawhakarere, he kanohi huna, ko Hine Huriawa te mauri o ngā taniwha e mōhio nei tātou ēnei rā, he kaitiaki, he tapu. Ko ētehi kei te moana, ko ētehi kei wāhi kē atu.

HINE HURIAWA is the keeper and kaitiaki of Hine Te Waikoropupū throughout the length and breadth of Aotearoa and Aoteamairangi.

Mythical and mysterious, Hine Huriawa gave birth to the children that today we call taniwha and other fantastic sea creatures.

HURIAWA BY ARTIST ROBIN SLOW

Taniwha are defined as a water spirit, powerful water creature, a chief, powerful leader, something or someone awesome – taniwha take many forms from logs to reptiles and whales and often live in lakes, rivers or the sea. They are often regarded as kaitiaki or guardians by the people who live in their territory. New Zealand itself is said to be part Taniwha, The North Island was fished up by Maui himself lifted from the ocean, while the South Island was his waka.

Reference: Māori dictionary

The iwi who holds mana whenua (territorial rights) over the Waikoropupū area have cultural accounts of the historic importance of Te Waikoropupū. This is illustrated by the legend of Huriawa, a kaitiaki taniwha (guardian spirit) and tūpuna (ancestor) who works her way through the lands of Mohua, travelling in the waters that flow through the domains of Hine Tū Ahoanga (the ancestress of stone), to free the flow of water.

Rākaihautū called forth Huriawa the kaitiaki taniwha (protective guardian) from her resting place on Parapara Maunga. Huriawa is well known for her bravery, her wisdom, and her gentle nature, and she was placed to guard and protect the prow of the waka and be caretaker of the waterways.

The catchments and waterways of Te Waikoropupū stretch for miles both underground and far out into Te Tai Tapu, Golden Bay. The underground caverns are made of sandstone and is the domain of Hine Tū Ahoanga (the ancestress of stone) who also presides over the prow of the Waka Uruao of the great explorer Rākaihautū.

Huriawa uses her special powers to dive deep into the land and sea to clear the many underwater caverns made of sandstone. Atop the land she tosses fallen trees and tangled vegetation from rivers to free the flow. She warns of earthquake danger when Ruaumoko turns in Papatūānuku, by sending messages through the surge and lift of the waters.

Huriawa travels out to sea where the clear waters rise up and bubble at the surface. She reaches all the waters touched by sandstone and travels to the deepest caverns in the very centre of the waka. Huriawa’s children rest here and help care for the place while the taniwha is off on her protective travels.

Huriawa’s resting place is within the numerous limestone caves and underground streams of Te Waikoropupū.

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